Covid-19 deaths top 300 in capital

At least eight people have died of novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Islamabad during the past 24 hours taking the toll of the pandemic to over 300.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said in a tweet that at least 200 people among the 300 fatalities were aged 60 and above.

He warned that the second wave of the coronavirus was more lethal and asked people to adopt preventive measures.

He said that the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) has decided to shut down all public dealings on temporary basis after emergence of 10 coronavirus positive cases among the officials.

Limited interaction with public will start from next week, DC Shafqaat said. He said that officials tested positive for Covid-19 were quarantined, however, tests of other staff members were also being carried out by National Institute Health (NIH) officials.

According to an official of National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) the federal capital has reported its highest single day rise in Covid-19 cases in the last two months, with 576 people tested positive.

He said that as many as 424 cases were reported on Wednesday while 537 cases were reported on Tuesday which was the second highest number of cases reported in a day during the last two months.

Six fatalities in Pindi

Five women and a man succumbed to the novel coronavirus in the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on Thursday.

The female fatalities include Sonia, Sajida, Mehwish, Seema, and Sultana while the man was identified as Maroof.

According to health authorities, some 145 patients are receiving treatment in HFH and Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant (RIUKT).

Some 15 infected patients were moved to ventilators while 50 others were shifted on oxygen in HFH on Thursday.

In Benazir Bhutto Hospital (HFH), coronavirus wards have been established in the CCU and ICU having a total capacity of 60 beds.

Health department officials urged the people to use facemasks and maintain social distancing protocols to remain protected against the pathogen.

They advised people to consume protein-rich foods that boost immunity.

SOPs ignored

Further, the violations of precautionary guidelines are being thrown in the air across the city including the areas where smart lockdowns are imposed.

The police as well as the Civil Defence Department (CDD) are not carrying out any action against the violators.

Shops and markets in areas under smart lockdowns remain open until late night beyond their prescribed limit while facemasks are rarely seen on people’s faces. The administration has not demarcated boundaries by placing barriers at entry points to areas under smart lockdown.

A daily situation report said that after the addition of 166 Covid-19 confirmed cases during the last 24 hours, the total number of positive cases has surged to 9,833 in Rawalpindi.

As many as 8,271 patients have recovered so far after treatment, out of the total 9,833 confirmed cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2020.